Population-Based Study on Lifestyle in São Paulo City: What Has Changed Over More Than a Decade?

Abstract

Background: modifiable risk factors related to lifestyle have possible low-cost interventions and, although potentially relevant in defining the epidemiological profile of the population and being associated with decreased early mortality from cardiovascular disease, these are not being monitored so that they can be assessed globally. So, the purpose of the study was to describe, analyze, and compare the lifestyle in the city of São Paulo in 2003 and 2015. Methods: this is a cross-sectional, population-based study that utilized data from the Health Survey of the City of São Paulofrom 2003 and 2015, selecting individuals of both sexes, aged 12 years and older. The study evaluated smoking, leisure-time physical activity, dependency, abusive alcohol consumption, frequent alcohol consumption, intake of fruits, vegetables, and greens, and overweight. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each lifestyle-related variable in 2003 and 2015, according to age group, sex, and education level. Poisson regression models were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios by age group, sex, and education level. Results: between 2003 and 2015, smoking decreased by 15% overall, 39% among adolescents, and 15% among adults. Insufficient intake of fruits, vegetables, and greens decreased by 7% overall, 11% among adults, 8% in males, 7% in females, 7% in those with intermediate education, and 17% in those with higher education. Frequent alcohol consumption decreased by 25.8% among those with higher education. Overweight increased by 37% overall, with significant increases in all age, gender, and educational categories. Conclusions: smoking, frequent alcohol consumption, and insufficient intake of fruits, vegetables, and greens showed positive decreases. Conversely, overweight exhibited negative increases across all analyzed categories. Given the existence of current public policies related to the presented risk factors, there is a need for evaluation and improvement of existing policies, especially those intervening in factors with the worst outcomes.